The age old feud, with people on both sides hating each other for centuries. I don't see why there's such a hatred by some for the other side. I mean, it's actually pretty easy to believe in God while still relying on science to explain most things. Can it not simply be accepted that science is our way of understanding how God has organised the world? Which side are you on? Or, like me, do you believe there shouldn't be sides, as both can work together?
See, I feel the need to dive a little deeper into this argument, so that a clarification can be made.
Where as I side with science, and view it as a way that the Creator made the universe, I still need to clarify that I do believe in some supernatural Force that is responsible for our creation.
But where those of Faith get upset at me, is that where as I feel that there is some Supernatural Force responsible for our Creation, I DO NOT believe it is any Creator that has been described to us from any Organized Religion. Therefore, that is why I vehemently oppose religious groups, as none of them have any shred of proof to back up their claims.
In essence, I view churches as claiming to speak for God, when in reality, I don't believe anyone representing these religious institutions have seen God or know what the Creator wants. But at the same time, they have no problem taking our money to stay operational, and to pay the Pastor ... who for all we know, may simply be speaking for an imaginary Creator.
What logic tells me that has transpired over the centuries is that since the beginning of life, Man eventually took advantage of a society that was very primitive in its intelligence, when well over 90% of the population could not even read or write ... and they took advantage of a public that didn't know any better. And then eventually, Man created God in his image. And in doing so, the earliest form of politics was established, with Man claiming that he knows what God wants. Then, these individuals established organized religion.
Today, I view religion as a business, just like any other business. Priests need everyone to come to church each week to give money, to help keep the church operational. And where as I don't attend church, my family informed me that there are occasions when the Priest will interject a guilt trip to its parishioners to give more money to the Church, in his sermons. He also apparently lays a guilt trip on those that do not attend Church regularly. Perhaps, it is all too obvious as to why that is the case, to those that aren't religious. The more frequency people come to Church, the more money the Church takes in.
But going to Church makes make people of faith feel good about themselves, since in their minds they think they are doing God's work. They think they are washed of their sins, because the Priest simply tells them that God has done so. Apparently, the Priest can hear God forgive everyone, but the rest of the parishioners can't ... for some strange reason.
But going to Church also gives people a sense of purpose in life. They think they are truly doing God's work.
So, yes I do believe something outside the realm of our understanding created us. I simply feel that nobody ... not one person has seen or knows what our True Creator's intentions were. There may very well not be a purpose to life, which a lot of people can not accept. I have struggled with this possibility for many years, but yes, I feel that is very much a possibility.
But that is why the more we move towards a secular society, the happier I am. And it's not because I don't believe in a God. It's because I feel that none of the institutions established truly speak for God, or even know what the Creator wants. Given as much deception there is in our Society, I don't think it would be unreasonable to ask our Creator to show us some sign that:
1) He truly exists and is still living
2) Let us know what He wants, and let this come directly from His very own mouth.
Jesus, probably did exist. However, I don't believe Jesus is the son of God. Rather, I simply feel he was a very good man. However, despite being a good man, I do think its possible that this individual claimed to be the son of God ... which got him in hot water with the Romans.
One has to keep in mind that the New Testament has been found to be written at some time around 70-90 AD. Therefore, if Jesus' disciples did write the New Testament, then this would probably put them from anywhere between 70-90 years old, themselves. And given how less than 10% of the population even knew how to read and write back then, does logic tell us that those in the professions of Jesus' disciples, such as a Fisherman (for example) knew how to read and write.
Obviously, whoever wrote the New Testament, these individuals clearly were well-versed in both. Therefore, it is a safe assumption that these stories were either simply passed down through word of mouth, or they were completely made up, by experts in Literature.